"They launched, established and ran an organisation seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power," according to a statement released by the UAE's Attorney General, published by the state news agency, WAM, in January.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), the New York-based, global human rights advocacy group, has warned that those charged will not face a fair trial. According to the HRW, the prosecution withheld a document containing key information relating to the charges as well as denying access to satisfactory legal advice.

Two of the charged are prominent human rights campaigners in the UAE.

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch said, “It appears that UAE authorities will drag scores of citizens through a shamelessly unfair judicial process that makes a mockery of justice.”

The UAE is a signatory of Article 13 of the Arab Charter on Human Rights, which states that everyone has the right to a fair trial.